Since teams are ZERO-8 coming off the bye...

[Bumper Bulldogs]

I have actually attended a few wins.
Hawthorn, Giants, Carlton and North Melbourne.

Currently running 50/50.

Need this one to get in the positive.

And you will get it. No way we lose this. Bulldogs with back to the wall coke out snarling

[Bulldog Joe]

Further analysis on the bye phenomema

2 sides have actually lost at home against an interstate side. That was Sydney against St Kilda and Richmond over Freo. Both results were Round 13. St Kilda is the only side to win interstate after the bye.

The Freo loss was the upset.

Freo then lost again (Rd 14) to GWS. - Perhaps they thought they were on an extended bye, but they recovered to beat Essendon (off the bye)

Losses for Brisbane, Geelong, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Essendon, Hawthorn and West Coast (Do WC actually count) were all interstate games and Melbourne were at Geelong which is actually worse than travelling interstate.

Sydney, Freo and Collingwood are the only teams scheduled to play an interstate team at home coming off their own bye so far.

This week we get to play an interstater as does Essendon.

AFL clearly looking for upsets scheduling 13 of 18 to play out of there zone off their bye.

[Flamethrower]

Based on form if you had suggested that Carl would beat GC and GWS would beat Freo by the best part of 70pts based on form you would have received some strange looks.

It's been clear that the teams coming off the bye have looked lethargic and have been smoked in several key indicators (clearances, contested possessions)... the challenge is that we ''come to play''.

No surprise at all that Gold Coast got smashed off the park - young non-Victorian sides get overawed by the size and the history when they run out onto the MCG. Look at Brisbane's record there - they are a much better team than the Suns.

It's a 2nd home ground for the Blues too.

0 & 8 off the bye will only be a problem if we are mentally and physically weak enough to let it be.

[EasternWest]

And you will get it. No way we lose this. Bulldogs with back to the wall coke out snarling

Did you have to mention the tennis balls?

[Grantysghost]

Did you have to mention the tennis balls?

That was ket.

[Go_Dogs]

This is a joyous post to contemplate.

Will be going along and haven’t been to many games this year, so looking forward to a big win!

[Mantis]

No surprise at all that Gold Coast got smashed off the park - young non-Victorian sides get overawed by the size and the history when they run out onto the MCG. Look at Brisbane's record there - they are a much better team than the Suns.

It's a 2nd home ground for the Blues too.

0 & 8 off the bye will only be a problem if we are mentally and physically weak enough to let it be.

Whilst the team GC fielded was younger than Carlton's team they were slightly more experienced in terms of average games played so I don't buy this claim.

The fact that Carlton had lost their 6 previous games, whilst GC had won their previous 2 against well performed teams in us & Adel needs to be taken into consideration.

Anyway, as we've both stated we need to play with the commitment required to compete at this level... if we get that right we should be ok.

[mjp]

The fact that Carlton had lost their 6 previous games, whilst GC had won their previous 2 against well performed teams in us & Adel needs to be taken into consideration.

They won those games IN DARWIN though.

Very different environment for US (coming off Ballarat) and Adelaide (coming off Ballarat AND Adelaide in winter).

Sides coming off the bye is 100% a thing and yet another inequity in the AFL fixture.

Winning this week is going to be a massive challenge.

[1eyedog]

And you will get it. No way we lose this. Bulldogs with back to the wall coke out snarling

I'm always snarling on Charlie.

[GVGjr]

It's something to plan for but there is no logical reason why a rest would soften the team. It's up to the coaches to get on top of.

[MrMahatma]

It's a flip of the coin. I'd say more because our key defensive posts are a lottery than the bye effect.

We'll probably win by 10 goals.

[bulldogtragic]

0-9 for sure. Lock it in. Lost at the selection table.

[JanLorMill]

0-9 for sure. Lock it in. Lost at the selection table.

What is it? Naughton still as a forward. I’m a very wary of a backline with Keath Gardner and JOD at this stage of their careers

[mjp]

0-9 for sure. Lock it in. Lost at the selection table.

To be fair, the 0-9 game is tonight. So we could win and you might still be right. Smart.

[mjp]

LOL - 7.6 to 1.3 just 5 mins into the 2nd.

This coming off the bye thing is 100% real.